Rolling deformation of wires and similar elongated elements

ABSTRACT

A wire or similar elongated element of metallic material is advanced between at least one pressure roller and at least one counter-roller and is engaged with the pressure roller under pressure to be rollingly deformed; the pressure roller may be profiled to form ribs, grooves or the like on the wire. The pressure acting from the wire on the roller frequently reaches such a force that it tends to destroy the pressure roller, and in accordance with the invention a counter-force is exerted upon the roller, to compensate for the force acting on the same from the wire so as to prevent its destruction.

United States Patent Hufnagl et al.

ROLLING DEFORMATION OF WIRES AND SIMILAR ELONGATED ELEMENTS Filed: Mar.15, 1972 Appl. No.: 234,835

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 17, 1971 Germany 2112966 US. Cl.72/236, 29/125 Int. Cl B2lb 27/02 Field of Search. 29/125, 148.4 D;72/199, 236,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1971 Strandel 29/125 6/1962Kohler 11/1971 Notari 1/1971 Properzi 72/236 [451 Feb. 26, 1974 PrimaryExaminer-Lowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker 5 7ABSTRACT A wire or similar elongated element of metallic material isadvanced between at least one pressure roller and at least onecounter-roller and is engaged with the pressure roller under pressure tobe rollingly deformed; the pressure roller may be profiled to form ribs,grooves or the like on the wire. The pressure acting from the wire onthe roller frequently reaches such a force that it tends to destroy thepressure roller, and in accordance with the invention a counter-force isexerted upon the roller, to compensate for the force acting on the samefrom the wire so as to prevent its destruction.

27 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure ROLLING DEFORMATION OF WIRES AND SIMILARELONGATED ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates generally to the processing of elongated elements of metallicmaterial, such as wires, rods and the like. More particularly, theinvention relates to the rolling deformation of such elongated elements,and still more particularly to a method for effecting such rollingdeformation and to an apparatus for carrying the method out.

Wire, rods or the like of metallic material are processed in variousways to either reduce their cross-- -section, change theircross-section, or provide the elongated element with profiling. One ofthese ways is to engage the elongated element at one side with one ormore pressure rollers, and to provide at the opposite sidecounter-rollers so that the elongated element is subjected to pressurein the nip between the cooperating pressure and counter-roller. As theelement advances between this nip, it is subjected to requisitedeformation due to the pressure exerted upon it.

Generally speaking, the prior-art devices used for this purpose utilizea plurality of pressure rollers which are spaced from one another andare mounted in suitable manner on a carrier, onto which the rollers--which are ring-shaped-are pushed and whereon they are secured withdistance rings between them. At the free end of the carrier, that is theshaft or the like, a nut and/r screws are provided which prevent theroller from slipping off. In such an arrangement, the maximum pressureforce which can be exerted upon the axially arrayed rollers on the shaftis 'at best below 1 ton of l2[ F W. .....t

Experience has shown that hot-rolled ribbed profiled steel elements canbe hot-rolled on devices of the type above, wherein the rollers are ofsteel or castings of suitable metal, with a speed of only 20-25meters/sec. Other arrangements are known in which it is possible toproduce rolling deformation of wire having a circular cross-section witha speed of 50 meters/second or more, using rollers of hot metal.However, in these arrangements it is not possible in particular toprofile the wire at this speed, because the deformation forces actingupon the rollers from contact with the wire are too great and tend todestroy the rollers.

In this connection it is important to understand that the elongatedelement, whether wire, rod or the like, is subjected by the pressureroller which cooperates with the counter-roller to strong pressure,required to either change its cross-section or/and to give it a suitableprofiling. Of course, the exertion of pressure is reciprocal, becausethe pressure is also exerted by the wire against the contact surface ofthe pressure roller itself, and this force is so strong that when theroller is of a hard metal, either of solid cross-section or of annularconfiguration, the force tends to burst or break the roller so that thesame must be discarded. Hereafter this force will be designated as thebursting force.

Inasmuch as a definition of the bursting force has just been given it isappropriate to further define that hereafter reference to an arrangementfor rolling is intended to designate a unit composed of at least onepressure roller and at least one for counteracting the bursting force,although of course within the parameter SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is ageneral object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages ofthe prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide animproved method for rolling deformation of elongated elements ofmetallic material, which method is not possessed of the disadvantages ofthe prior art.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangementfor carrying out the method.

The problem to be overcome essentially is to assure that the pressureroller (or of course rollers, if several are provided) of a hard metalor a material having the appropriate characteristics, can withstand thebursting force exerted upon it by pressure-contact with the elongatedelement being deformed (either for reducing or changing thecross-section of the element and/or profiling the element) so that theforce does not destroy the roller (or rollers).

In pursuance of these objects, and of others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a method of rollinglydeforming rods, wires and like elongated elements of metallic material;briefly stated, this method comprises the steps of advancing anelongated element of metallic material between at least one pressureroller and at least one counter-roller. The element is engaged underpressure with the pressure roller so as to deform the element, andsimultaneously the element exerts upon the pressure roller a first forcewhich is of a magnitude tending to destroy the pressure roller.According to the present invention, there is exerted upon the pressureroller from at least one direction a second counterforce of suchmagnitude as to counteract the first force and to prevent thedestruction of the roller.

Advantageously, the direction from which the second force is appliedshould be a lateral direction and the second force should be at leastidentical in magnitude with the first force, and preferably greater.

The pressure roller may be axially compressed, or at least substantiallyaxially, at least during the exertion of pressure on it by the element,and the compression may take place directly or indirectly by means of ahydraulic pressure or an analogous pressure, in such a manner that theaxial components of the first force are counteracted.

The first force or bursting force isto be considered for purposes of thepresent disclosure as that force exerted upon the pressure roller by theelement being deformed which, if the pressure roller is of one piece,can no longer be withstood by the pressure roller and will result indestruction of the roller. The bursting force is also to be consideredthat force which, if for instance the roller is of two parts or halves,will so act upon the roller that the two parts or halves are drivenapart to such an extent that the roller can no longer act in itsintended manner upon the elongated element.

The present invention represents the first realization known to us ofthe fact that the bursting force acting upon the pressure roller-withthe latter being made of a hard metal-can be compensated in order toprevent the destruction of the roller.

It is further advantageous according to the present invention that thecompensating force or second force is applied by a pre-compressed massof synthetic plastic material, although pneumatic or hydraulic forcescan also be utilized. If the synthetic plastic material is used, then itis intended that it should be subjected to precompression and shouldexert its force resulting from its tendency to expand upon a piston oran analogous force-transmitting component which transmits the secondforce to the roller, and if the latter is for instance of two halves,the second force will then also serve to maintain them in abutment andin operative position relative to one another.

An apparatus for carrying out the present invention may utilize apressure roller in conjunction with a piston which is itself subjectedto a pressure sufficient to transmit to the pressure roller the secondforce of such magnitude as to counteract the first force to which thepressure roller will be subjected when deforming a rod or wire-shapedelongated element.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention utilizes a shafthaving an abutment shoulder against which one axial end of the pressureroller abuts whereas at the opposite axial end there is provided anannular piston surrounding the shaft and bearing against the pressureroller, the piston having at the end remote from the pressure roller areduced-diameter end portion (which of course need not be provided) andwhich is received in a pressure cylinder also mounted on the shaft.

The pressure cylinder should surround the shaft annularly and inU-shaped configuration, and the piston may be provided with grooves orthe like for receiving a sealing element. A pressure ring may beprovided on the piston and may act upon one or more particularlyradially acting wedges or similar mounting and holding means whichcooperate with the roller to prevent the same from axially shifting onthe shaft.

It is advantageous if one or both of the abutting surfaces of the pistonand the pressure roller are so configurated as to be inclined withrespect to the axis of the shaft in such a manner that the contact takesplace only in the radially outer regions of the piston and pressureroller.

One or both of these surfaces may be provided with an annular recesswhich surrounds the shaft, the purpose being to concentrate the specificsurface pressure into certain areas of the contacting faces or engagingfaces.

It is a further concept according to the present invention that thepressure roller may be made of at least two parts which contact oneanother in a plane of separation extending radially of, or at adifferent angle of inclination with reference to, the shaft, and theplane of separation should advantageously be midway or substantiallymidway of the axial length of the pressure rollet The shaft itself isalso of a particular configuration, having one portion of a firstdiameter and being stepped at an adjacent portion so as to produce anabutment; the adjacent portion is provided with a further step forreceiving the wedge or wedges and on which further portion the pressureroller is also mounted, with an additional portion being also providedwhich is also stepped to mount the cylinder itself. The roller isadvantageously provided with suitable passage means for circulation ofthe cooling fluid, and its circumferential surface may be inclined withrespect to the axis of the shaft on which it is mounted. Thecircumferential surface may be cylindrical, it may be concave or convex,or it may be profiled, that is, a combi nation configuration ispossible.

In axial direction of the pressure roller the circumferential face maybe subdivided into two immediately ad- 5 jacent portions, that isaxially adjacent, which are of different and mutually independentprofiling.

The piston advantageously extends to or almost to the periphery of thepressure roller; between it and the pressure roller itself a ring ofmaterial may be positioned which should advantageously consist of astrongly vibration-damping substance, either metallic or non-metallic,although a material which is not vibration--damping can also beutilized. Such ring may be completely or partially recessed into thepiston and- /or into the pressure roller, that is into the respectivelyadjacent contact surfaces thereof. The ring may be provided withcut-outs if desired.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a fragmentary axialsection illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before entering into a detaileddiscussion of the drawing, it is pointed out that only those featureswhich are germane to the present invention have been illustrated. Otherfeatures are conventional and details may be ascertained, if necessaryor desired, by reference to pages 562-580 of The Making, Shaping andTreating of Steel, Eight Edition, issued by the United States SteelCorporation.

Turning now to the drawing, it will be seen that reference numeral 6identifes a roller shaft in a rolling mill, the shaft 6 being stepped indiameter to provide a shoulder against which a ring 3 is seated. Thehere annular pressure roller 1 surrounds the shaft 6 and abuts axiallyagainst the ring 3, its other axial end being contacted by the alsoannular piston 2.

In the illustrated embodiment a piston 2 has a reduced-diameter endportion remote from the pressure roller 1 and extending into a pressurecylinder 5 which is annular and U-shaped in configuration and whichembraces the shaft 6 as illustrated. Advantageously the cylinder 5 isprovided with an opening that can be pressure-tightly closed or with aone-way valve (not illustrated) which permits no outflow from theannular clearance or chamber defined in the interior of the cylinder 5with the piston 2 which together constitute a hydraulically operatedunit. This clearance can be filled in accordance with the presentinvention with a mass of synthetic plastic material which is introducedand pressurized whereupon the opening is closed. Of course, it ispossible to utilize hydraulic fluid or even air in place of thesynthetic plastic material.

In any case, after the cylinder 5 is mounted on the shaft 6, thepressure so produced (in the case of use of synthetic plastic materialthis will be a precompressed material which cannot relax its compressionbecause the opening in the cylinder 5 is closed after the material iscompressed) acts upon the piston 2 to transmit a force upon the roller 1which is thus stressed and maintained in position. This force is soselected, by considerations which can be determined theoretically bycalculation or empirically in a manner known to those skilled in theart, that it will counteract the bursting force exerted upon thecircumferential surface of the pressure roller 1 by an elongated elementor flank which the latter engages under pressure in order to deform thesame. The circumferential surface may be profiled, as indicated by thegroove 1a, so that an elongated element, whose width is greater than thewidth of the groove la, will be formed with a rib the cross-sectionalconfiguration of which corresponds to that of the groove la, or else anelongated element may be received entirely in the groove 1a and may haveits cross-section reduced to that of the groove 1a from a previouslylarger cross--section.

Additional means may be provided to further counteract the possibilitythat the roller 1 may burst under the influence of the bursting force ormight be otherwise damaged thereby. A recess 11 may be provided toassure that the counterpressure or counterforce exerted by the piston 2will be directed to a particular region, that is in the presentinstance, due to the location of the recess 11, the force will bedirected to the peripheral region of the roller 1. However, undercertain circumstances it may also be possible to provide the inclinedsurface 9 as shown.

The piston 2 should of course extend as far as possible towards theperiphery of the roller 1, and it may be advantageous in certaincircumstances that it partially embraces the periphery of the roller 1in the region of the adjacent axial end thereof, in which case the otheraxial end may also be partially embraced by the ring 3.

A pressure ring 7 is provided on the piston 2 to provide for additionalarresting and tightening of wedges 8 or a single wedge 8 to therebymaintain the roller 1 against movement radially of the shaft.

Between the ring 3 and the roller 1, and/or between the roller 1 and thepiston 2, a force-transmitting means may be provided, for instance inform of annuli of vibration-damping material, or ofnon-vibration-damping material. This has been mentioned above but is notspecifically illustrated in the drawing.

Although hydraulic fluid can be utilized, the currently preferred mediumis a mass of synthetic plastic material which is advantageouslyintroduced into the cylinder 5 as discussed earlier, filling the spaceor clearance 12 mentioned before and having been introduced into thisspace under pressure which, because the opening (not shown) in thecylinder 5 is closed after the material is pressurized, acts upon thepiston 2.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing those described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inthe processing of elongated elements of metallic material, it is notintended to be limited to the details shown, since various modificationsand structural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

We claim:

1. In a method of rollingly deforming elongated blanks by advancing thesame between a pressure roller and a counter roller while subjecting thesame to pressure, whereby the pressure roller is subjected to the actionof forces having components acting in the axial direction of saidpressure roller, the improvement which consists in hydraulicallysubjecting said pressure roller to axial compression of such magnitudeas to counteract said components at least while the rollers deform theblanks.

2. In an apparatus for rollingly deforming elongated blanks, acombination comprising a shaft; a pressure roller having acircumferential surface adapted to engage and rollingly deform theblanks, whereby said roller is subjected to the action of first forceshaving components acting in the axial direction of said rollers; and ahydraulically actuated cylinder-and-piston unit having a cylinder memberand a piston member, one of said members acting upon said pressureroller adjacent said circumferential surface so as to exert upon saidpressure roller second forces counteracting said axial components ofsaid first forces.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said members of saidunit define a chamber; and further comprising a body of pressurizedmedium confined in said chamber and acting on said one member.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said body is ofsynthetic plastic material.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, said roller being of a hardmetal.

6. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said body is ofhigh-viscosity substance.

7. A combination as defined in claim 2, said roller having two axialends; further comprising abutment means engaging one of said axial endsfor preventing axial shifting of said roller; and wherein said onemember engages said other axial end for exerting said second forces uponthe same.

8. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said piston and cylindermembers are located adjacent one axial end of said roller, said cylinderannularly surrounding said shaft and said piston being guided in saidcylinder.

9. A combination as defined in claim 3, said cylinder member having anopening for introduction and pressurizing of said body, and includingclosure means for closing said opening.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8, said piston member beingannular and including at least one circumferential recess, and furthercomprising a sealing element received in said recess.

11. A combination as defined in claim 8; further comprising mountingelements wedgingly mounting said roller on said shaft against axialdisplacement, and wherein said piston member has a surface pressing uponsaid mounting elements for preventing displace ment of the same.

12. A combination as defined in claim 8, at least one of said roller andpiston member having an inclined engaging surface so configurated thatsaid roller and piston engage only in the radially outer region of saidroller.

13. A combination as defined in claim 8, said roller and said pistonmember having respective engaging surfaces; and wherein at least one ofsaid engaging surfaces is provided with an annular recess surroundingsaid shaft.

14. A combination as defined in claim 8, said roller being of at leasttwo sections which abut in a plane of separation inclined to the axis ofsaid roller; and said piston including holding means for holding saidsections in abutment.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, said plane of separation beingnormal to said axis.

16. A combination as defined in claim 14, said plane of separation beingmidway between the opposite axial ends of said roller.

17. A combination as defined in claim 8, further comprising coolingpassage means on said roller for passage of a cooling mediumtherethrough.

18. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is inclined with reference to the axis of said shaft.

19. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is cylindrical.

20. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is convex.

21. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is concave.

22. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is profiled.

23. A combination as defined in claim 22, wherein said circumferentialsurface is composed of two axially adjacent sections each of which isprovided with a different profiling.

24. A combination as defined in claim 2; and further comprising anannulus of strongly vibration-damping material interposed between atleast one of said members and the roller.

25. A combination as defined in claim 24, said one member being saidpiston member; and wherein said annulus is at least in part recessedinto at least one of said piston member and said roller.

26. A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said annulus isprovided with cut-outs.

27. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said shaft has a firstportion of a first diameter, a second portion of a reduced seconddiameter, an abutment ring on said second portion and abutting against ashoulder formed by the same with said first portion, a third portion ofa further-reduced third diameter surrounded by said roller, arrestingmeans between said roller and said third portion for arresting theformer against movement relative to the latter, and a fourth portion ofa further-reduced fourth diameter with said cylinder member surroundingsaid fourth portion adjacent one axial end of said roller.

1. In a method of rollingly deforming elongated blanks by advancing thesame between a pressure roller and a counter roller while subjecting thesame to pressure, whereby the pressure roller is subjected to the actionof forces having components acting in the axial direction of saidpressure roller, the improvement which consists in hydraulicallysubjecting said pressure roller to axial compression of such magnitudeas to counteract said components at least while the rollers deform theblanks.
 2. In an apparatus for rollingly deforming elongated blanks, acombination comprising a shaft; a pressure roller having acircumferential surface adapted to engage and rollingly deform theblanks, whereby said roller is subjected to the action of first forceshaving components acting in the axial direction of said rollers; and ahydraulically actuated cylinder-and-piston unit having a cylinder memberand a piston member, one of said members acting upon said pressureroller adjacent said circumferential surface so as to exert upon saidpressure roller second forces counteracting said axial components ofsaid first forces.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein saidmembers of said unit define a chamber; and further comprising a body ofpressurized medium confined in said chamber and acting on said onemember.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said body is ofsynthetic plastic material.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, saidroller being of a hard metal.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 2,wherein said body is of high-viscosity substance.
 7. A combination asdefined in claim 2, said roller having two axial ends; furthercomprising abutment means engaging one of said axial ends for preventingaxial shifting of said roller; and wherein said one member engages saidother axial end for exerting said second forces upon the same.
 8. Acombination as defined in claim 2, wherein said piston and cylindermembers are located adjacent one axial end of said roller, said cylinderannularly surrounding said shaft and said piston being guided in saidcylinder.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 3, said cylinder memberhaving an opening for introduction and pressurizing of said body, andincluding closure means for closing said opening.
 10. A combination asdefined in claim 8, said piston member being annular and including atleast one circumferential recess, and further comprising a sealingelement received in said recess.
 11. A combination as defined in claim8; further comprising mounting elements wedgingly mounting said rolleron said shaft against axial displacement; and wherein said piston memberhas a surface pressing upon said mounting elements for preventingdisplacement of the same.
 12. A combination as defined in claim 8, atleast one of said roller and piston member having an inclined engagingsurface so configurated that said roller and piston engage only in theradially outer region of said roller.
 13. A combination as defined inclaim 8, said roller and said piston member having respective engagingsurfaces; and wherein at least one of said engaging surfaces is providedwith an annular recess surrounding said shaft.
 14. A combination asdefined in claim 8, said roller being of at least two sections whichabut in a plane of separation inclined to the axis of said roller; andsaid piston including holding means for holding said sections inabutment.
 15. A combination as defined in claim 14, said plane ofseparation being normal to said axis.
 16. A combination as defined inclaim 14, said plane of separation being midway between the oppositeaxial ends of said roller.
 17. A combination as defined in claim 8,further comprising cooling passage means on said roller for passage of acooling medium therethrough.
 18. A combination as defined in claim 8,wherein said circumferential surface is inclined with reference to theaxis of said shaft.
 19. A combination as defined in claim 8, whereinsaid circumferential surface is cylindrical.
 20. A combination asdefined in claim 8, wherein said circumferential surface is convex. 21.A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said circumferentialsurface is concave.
 22. A combination as defined in claim 8, whereinsaid circumferential surface is profiled.
 23. A combination as definedin claim 22, wherein said circumferential surface is composed of twoaxially adjacent sections each of which is provided with a differentprofiling.
 24. A combination as defined in claim 2; and furthercomprising an annulus of strongly vibration-damping material interposedbetween at least one of said members and the roller.
 25. A combinationas defined in claim 24, said one member being said piston member; andwherein said annulus is at least in part recessed into at least one ofsaid piston member and said roller.
 26. A combination as defined inclaim 24, wherein said annulus is provided with cut-outs.
 27. Acombination as defined in claim 2, wherein said shaft has a firstportion of a first diameter, a second portion of a reduced seconddiameter, an abutment ring on said second portion and abutting against ashoulder formed by the same with said first portion, a third portion ofa further-reduced third diameter surrounded by said roller, arrestingmeans between said roller and said third portion for arresting theformer against movement relative to the latter, and a fourth portion ofa further-reduced fourth diameter with said cylinder member surroundingsaid fourth portion adjacent one axial end of said roller.